…Replacement of the pipe has become entangled in a bureaucratic, environmental quagmire that now has delayed the project a full year and sparked a battle in which Gov. Tim Walz allowed his Commerce Department to continue to challenge the Public Utilities Commission on its unanimous decision to issue a certificate of need. Shortly after, Enbridge announced the delay.

That means another year of risk to the communities whose property the old line runs through. Worse still, even higher rail shipments of oil. Without additional pipeline capacity, such shipments have hit historic highs. That oil travels through some of the most densely populated areas of the state, posing a potential environmental disaster should there be a derailment.

St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 12, 2019)
– Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Governor
Walz’ decision to continue the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s appeal
challenging the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need that was
dismissed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals:

“Jobs for Minnesotans is disappointed by Governor Walz’s decision to continue the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s appeal of the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need. We stand behind the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s (MPUC) unanimous approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project Certificate of Need following a rigorous and thorough four year review. The MPUC commissioners understood the sense of urgency to replace this line to protect the environment, yet this decision dismisses their knowledge of the law and commitment to fairly and impartially weigh the merits of the project. Time after time, the project has been deemed necessary by the MPUC in the best interest of the public and the state of Minnesota.

“The project is a critical $2.6 billion dollar private investment in
Minnesota’s energy infrastructure, replacing an aging pipeline on which the
state relies for energy security and economic competitiveness. The project will
provide quality jobs to more than 6,500 Minnesota workers during the course of
the project, including 2,100 family-sustaining construction jobs. And, bring
Minnesota tradespeople back home to work.

“We strongly encourage Governor Walz to issue permits in a timely manner to prevent any further delays to the Line 3 Replacement Project while this appeal continues through the courts.”

About Jobs for MinnesotansJobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.

St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 4, 2019) – Jobs for
Minnesotans today released the following statement following the tampering of
an Enbridge pipeline valve near Grand Rapids earlier today:

“Jobs for Minnesotans joins its thousands of members and the
vast majority of Minnesotans who strongly condemn the dangerous and
unacceptable actions taken today in the tampering incident involving an
Enbridge pipeline valve near Grand Rapids. We value the safety of our
communities, workers and the lands and environment impacted by these actions,
and urge lawmakers and enforcers not to allow criminal acts like these to
continue. We believe that projects following the rigorous state review and
approval process should be allowed to move through the construction and
operation stages safely, without worries of the impacts of drastic measures
taken by those who choose not to pursue lawful means in making their concerns
heard.”

About Jobs for MinnesotansJobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.

St. Paul, Minn. (Jan. 14, 2019)
– Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Rep.
Pete Stauber’s introduction of H.R. 527, the Superior National Forest Land
Exchange Act of 2019, to Congress today:

“We welcome today’s news that Rep. Pete Stauber has introduced legislation to ratify the already approved PolyMet land exchange. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill in the last session of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. We commend Rep. Stauber for following through on his campaign promise and thank him and other members of the Minnesota delegation for their continued support of the copper-nickel mining industry that will bring family-sustaining jobs and an economic boost to the communities of northeast Minnesota.”

About Jobs for MinnesotansJobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.

[Rep. Pete] Stauber, R-Hermantown, introduced H.R. 527, the Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2019, to reaffirm a land swap between PolyMet Mining Co. and the U.S. Forest Service, according to a news release sent by Stauber’s office.